Hoyer Praises Obama Administration Action to Repeal Global Gag Rule

WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today regarding the executive order signed by President Obama repealing the global gag rule:

“Today, President Obama signed an executive order repealing the ‘global gag rule,’ a policy that banned American funds for overseas family planning organizations that perform abortions or conduct abortion counseling. This misguided policy left many health clinics in the developing world severely underfunded. The true victims of the global gag rule were some of the world’s poorest women, who lost out on family planning advice, contraception, and information about preventing sexually transmitted diseases. Today’s executive order is a step toward fewer unintended pregnancies and improved women’s health, all over the world—goals we can all agree on.”